Interning on the Aronnax

Better Left Unsaid

A/N: Forgot I hadn't posted this chapter, sorry-

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Hammerhead was a pirate, Kaiko knew that. She knew he was supposed to be dangerous.

But here was the thing. For all his yelling and blustering and ominous black market whispers of "never mess with Hammerhead," there was a reason WOA ignored Hammerhead in favor of other pirates. There was a reason Kaiko had so little qualms about Hammerhead being around her kids.

Because Hammerhead wasn't out to hurt anyone. Sinking ships and submarines, stealing, and yelling loud enough to rattle pipes, but it was rare for someone to actually be hurt. Kaiko knew Violet and knew that Violet was firmly against killing people

Had known? Kaiko hadn't seen Violet in sixteen years, and she'd been blindly ignoring the possibility of what could have sent Hammerhead on a rampage six years ago...

Hammerhead had certainly been angry enough to blindly hurt someone. But the Nektons had followed up every attack. Nobody had been hurt-

But Hammerhead said Pete had been crew. Pete didn't look old enough to have been part of the crew six years ago. More recently, then? Or had Pete just been a kid when it happened?

"Hammerhead, what did you do?" Kaiko demanded, standing in a rush of anger.

"Pirates fight, ya know that," Hammerhead said. His face was unusually flat, making it impossible for Kaiko to guess what he was thinking. "Pete, what happened is yer own fault."

"Just keep telling yourself that, Hammerhead."

Pete seemed about to go on, when there was a chirp. Pete scowled at one of the consoles, then sat down.

"You can't just ignore me. Not anymore," Pete said, then closed his connection.

Well, that didn't sound ominous. Kaiko sat and thrust her joysticks forward, leaping the Aronnax upward.

Hammerhead made a startled noise and leaned forward. "Where'd he go?"

"Er, scanners are still off-line, Cap'n," Danny Boy said sheepishly.

The Aronnax swept over the mountains right then, and Kaiko saw the space between the mountains was completely empty. She checked her own scanners, but there was no sign of a third submarine. He'd vanished into the mountains.

"Well, use yer eyes and follow him!" Hammerhead yelled. He grabbed a microphone. "Close the Moon Pool!"

Kaik turned on the searchlights, filling the bowl with light. Hammerhead jumped with a yell.

"I told ya to git, Nekton!" Hammerhead yelled.

"This is still a research site," Kaiko replied calmly.

Hammerhead glared, then thumped Danny Boy's shoulder. "Turn about, Danny Boy! Full speed!"

"Aye, Cap'n," Danny Boy said, spinning the helm.

"Waste of time," Hammerhead grumbled, then stabbed a finger to one of his consoles, cutting off their connection.

Kaiko watched the Dark Orca make a broad turn, then drive away. She again checked for any sign of Pete's submarine, but the bowl appeared to be empty.

Kaiko heard the bridge door open, then Ant's voice.

"Mum! You'll never guess what Dad figured out!"

Kaiko turned slowly, her mind more on the new pirate than Ant and Will joining her on the bridge.

"How did it go?" Will asked.

Kaiko shook her head. "I have no idea," Kaiko said honestly.